Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-9VJ4-WC7R-P844

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-21 01:05 – Updated: 2026-01-21 01:05

Summary

ImageMagick MSL: Stack overflow via infinite recursion in ProcessMSLScript

Details

Summary

Stack overflow via infinite recursion in MSL (Magick Scripting Language) <write> command when writing to MSL format.

Version

ImageMagick 7.x (tested on current main branch)
Commit: HEAD
Requires: libxml2 support (for MSL parsing)

Steps to Reproduce

Method 1: Using ImageMagick directly

magick MSL:recursive.msl out.png

Method 2: Using OSS-Fuzz reproduce

python3 infra/helper.py build_fuzzers imagemagick
python3 infra/helper.py reproduce imagemagick msl_fuzzer recursive.msl

Or run the fuzzer directly:

./msl_fuzzer recursive.msl

Expected Behavior

ImageMagick should handle recursive MSL references gracefully by detecting the loop and returning an error.

Actual Behavior

Stack overflow causes process crash:

AddressSanitizer:DEADLYSIGNAL
==PID==ERROR: AddressSanitizer: stack-overflow
    #0 MSLStartElement /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7045
    #1 xmlParseStartTag /src/libxml2/parser.c
    #2 xmlParseChunk /src/libxml2/parser.c:11273
    #3 ProcessMSLScript /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7405
    #4 WriteMSLImage /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7867
    #5 WriteImage /src/imagemagick/MagickCore/constitute.c:1346
    #6 MSLStartElement /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7045
    ... (infinite recursion, 287+ frames)

Root Cause Analysis

In coders/msl.c, the <write> command handler in MSLStartElement() (line ~7045) calls WriteImage(). When the output filename specifies MSL format (msl:filename), WriteMSLImage() is called, which parses the MSL file again via ProcessMSLScript().

If the MSL file references itself (directly or indirectly), this creates an infinite recursion loop:

MSLStartElement() → WriteImage() → WriteMSLImage() → ProcessMSLScript()
    → xmlParseChunk() → MSLStartElement() → ... (infinite loop)

Impact

DoS: Guaranteed crash via stack exhaustion
Affected: Any application using ImageMagick to process user-supplied MSL files

Additional Trigger Paths

The <read> command can also trigger recursion:

Indirect recursion is also possible (a.msl → b.msl → a.msl).

Fuzzer

This issue was discovered using a custom MSL fuzzer:

#include <cstdint>
#include <Magick++/Blob.h>
#include <Magick++/Image.h>
#include "utils.cc"

extern "C" int LLVMFuzzerTestOneInput(const uint8_t *Data, size_t Size)
{
  if (IsInvalidSize(Size))
    return(0);
  try
  {
    const Magick::Blob blob(Data, Size);
    Magick::Image image;
    image.magick("MSL");
    image.fileName("MSL:");
    image.read(blob);
  }
  catch (Magick::Exception)
  {
  }
  return(0);
}

This issue was found by Team FuzzingBrain @ Texas A&M University

Severity

5.5 (Medium)


                  
                    CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Show details on source website

JSON

To clipboard

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        }
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  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-23874"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-835"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-01-21T01:05:23Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-01-20T01:15:57Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "## Summary\n\nStack overflow via infinite recursion in MSL (Magick Scripting Language) `\u003cwrite\u003e` command when writing to MSL format.\n\n## Version\n\n- ImageMagick 7.x (tested on current main branch)\n- Commit: HEAD\n- Requires: libxml2 support (for MSL parsing)\n\n## Steps to Reproduce\n\n### Method 1: Using ImageMagick directly\n\n```bash\nmagick MSL:recursive.msl out.png\n```\n\n### Method 2: Using OSS-Fuzz reproduce\n\n```bash\npython3 infra/helper.py build_fuzzers imagemagick\npython3 infra/helper.py reproduce imagemagick msl_fuzzer recursive.msl\n```\n\nOr run the fuzzer directly:\n```bash\n./msl_fuzzer recursive.msl\n```\n\n## Expected Behavior\n\nImageMagick should handle recursive MSL references gracefully by detecting the loop and returning an error.\n\n## Actual Behavior\n\nStack overflow causes process crash:\n\n```\nAddressSanitizer:DEADLYSIGNAL\n==PID==ERROR: AddressSanitizer: stack-overflow\n    #0 MSLStartElement /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7045\n    #1 xmlParseStartTag /src/libxml2/parser.c\n    #2 xmlParseChunk /src/libxml2/parser.c:11273\n    #3 ProcessMSLScript /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7405\n    #4 WriteMSLImage /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7867\n    #5 WriteImage /src/imagemagick/MagickCore/constitute.c:1346\n    #6 MSLStartElement /src/imagemagick/coders/msl.c:7045\n    ... (infinite recursion, 287+ frames)\n```\n\n## Root Cause Analysis\n\nIn `coders/msl.c`, the `\u003cwrite\u003e` command handler in `MSLStartElement()` (line ~7045) calls `WriteImage()`. When the output filename specifies MSL format (`msl:filename`), `WriteMSLImage()` is called, which parses the MSL file again via `ProcessMSLScript()`.\n\nIf the MSL file references itself (directly or indirectly), this creates an infinite recursion loop:\n\n```\nMSLStartElement() \u2192 WriteImage() \u2192 WriteMSLImage() \u2192 ProcessMSLScript()\n    \u2192 xmlParseChunk() \u2192 MSLStartElement() \u2192 ... (infinite loop)\n```\n\n## Impact\n\n- **DoS**: Guaranteed crash via stack exhaustion\n- **Affected**: Any application using ImageMagick to process user-supplied MSL files\n\n## Additional Trigger Paths\n\nThe `\u003cread\u003e` command can also trigger recursion:\n\nIndirect recursion is also possible (a.msl \u2192 b.msl \u2192 a.msl).\n\n## Fuzzer\n\nThis issue was discovered using a custom MSL fuzzer:\n\n```cpp\n#include \u003ccstdint\u003e\n#include \u003cMagick++/Blob.h\u003e\n#include \u003cMagick++/Image.h\u003e\n#include \"utils.cc\"\n\nextern \"C\" int LLVMFuzzerTestOneInput(const uint8_t *Data, size_t Size)\n{\n  if (IsInvalidSize(Size))\n    return(0);\n  try\n  {\n    const Magick::Blob blob(Data, Size);\n    Magick::Image image;\n    image.magick(\"MSL\");\n    image.fileName(\"MSL:\");\n    image.read(blob);\n  }\n  catch (Magick::Exception)\n  {\n  }\n  return(0);\n}\n```\n\nThis issue was found by Team FuzzingBrain @ Texas A\u0026M University",
  "id": "GHSA-9vj4-wc7r-p844",
  "modified": "2026-01-21T01:05:23Z",
  "published": "2026-01-21T01:05:23Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/security/advisories/GHSA-9vj4-wc7r-p844"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23874"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/dlemstra/Magick.NET/releases/tag/14.10.2"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "ImageMagick MSL: Stack overflow via infinite recursion in ProcessMSLScript"
}

CVE-2026-23874 (GCVE-0-2026-23874)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-01-20 00:52 – Updated: 2026-01-20 21:43

Title

ImageMagick's MSL: Stack overflow via infinite recursion in ProcessMSLScript

Summary

ImageMagick is free and open-source software used for editing and manipulating digital images. Versions prior to 7.1.2-13 have a stack overflow via infinite recursion in MSL (Magick Scripting Language) `<write>` command when writing to MSL format. Version 7.1.2-13 fixes the issue.

Severity

5.5 (Medium)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

SSVC

Exploitation: poc Automatable: no Technical Impact: partial

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2026-01-20 21:37 UTC

CWE

CWE-835 - Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')

Assigner

GitHub_M mitre root

References

1 reference

URL	Tags
https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/securi…	x_refsource_CONFIRM

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
ImageMagick	ImageMagick	Affected: < 7.1.2-13

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-23874",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-01-20T21:37:11.270727Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
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              "type": "ssvc"
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          "dateUpdated": "2026-01-20T21:43:48.227Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
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      }
    ],
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          "vendor": "ImageMagick",
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              "version": "\u003c 7.1.2-13"
            }
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          "lang": "en",
          "value": "ImageMagick is free and open-source software used for editing and manipulating digital images. Versions prior to 7.1.2-13 have a stack overflow via infinite recursion in MSL (Magick Scripting Language) `\u003cwrite\u003e` command when writing to MSL format. Version 7.1.2-13 fixes the issue."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "baseScore": 5.5,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "integrityImpact": "NONE",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "scope": "UNCHANGED",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
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          "descriptions": [
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              "cweId": "CWE-835",
              "description": "CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition (\u0027Infinite Loop\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
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        "dateUpdated": "2026-01-20T00:52:52.916Z",
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          "url": "https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/security/advisories/GHSA-9vj4-wc7r-p844"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-9vj4-wc7r-p844",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "ImageMagick\u0027s MSL: Stack overflow via infinite recursion in ProcessMSLScript"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-23874",
    "datePublished": "2026-01-20T00:52:52.916Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-01-16T21:02:02.900Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-01-20T21:43:48.227Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.

Action not permitted

GHSA-9VJ4-WC7R-P844

Summary

Version

Steps to Reproduce

Method 1: Using ImageMagick directly

Method 2: Using OSS-Fuzz reproduce

Expected Behavior

Actual Behavior

Root Cause Analysis

Impact

Additional Trigger Paths

Fuzzer

CVE-2026-23874 (GCVE-0-2026-23874)

Tags

Sightings

Nomenclature

Related by attack behaviour